Kick Sleep Deprivation in the Butt!

Do you follow my Facebook page? Or Instagram? If you do you would know that The Night Time has not been great for us lately for the last eleven months. Rocky is not the greatest sleeper <- understatement. Especially lately. There are lots of theories that race through my sleep deprived mind as I battle through the long nights, with the Daddy side-kick fighting along side me. Is he hungry? Did he eat too much? Is it wind? Reflux? A dairy intolerance? Too much sleep during the day? Not enough? Was he not tired enough? Over tired? Each night I try to get it just right, and each night as I put him to bed I wish that maybe, just maybe, tonight will be the night that he’ll sleep just a little bit better.

I keep on wishing.

Meanwhile, I’m getting kinda good at getting through the day on very little sleep. Sure, I still have my meltdowns, I’m only human after all! But I have learnt a few things about making the most of each day while my brain is fried. Here’s what I have to share about winning the fight against sleep deprivation.

Kick Sleep Deprivation in the Butt!

1. Shower

This may sound ridiculously simple, but the act of having a shower can wash the crazy off me just enough so that I can function for the day. Some mornings, the mornings that we’re not going anywhere in particular, I just focus on getting the kids fed and helping hubby get out the door to work. And then suddenly it’s lunch time and I’m still in my PJs and feeling funky (bad funky). If I make the effort to shower first I feel SO much happier and clear headed, even if it means getting up before everyone else to do it.

2. Colour

Get dressed! Throw on a necklace, scarf or top with a pop of colour to brighten your day. Just because you feel like crap, it doesn’t mean you have to look it.

3. Bright eyes

I don’t wear a lot of make up but I am completely addicted to a couple of products that help my eyes go from packing a couple of dark suitcases to light and bright (as light and bright as they’re gonna get after getting woken up every hour!). I adore Benefit Fake Up and Benefit High Brow (not sponsored, just love em). Fake up is a concealer with an in built moisturiser, so it doesn’t go all creasey and crinkly. High Brow is a magic highlighter that wakes up your face! It’s a soft white pencil that you apply to your brow bone (just under the eye brow). So easy and quick to do, which is awesome cos I ain’t got time to be messing around!

4. Feed the monster right

Your sleep deprived self will be crying out for sugar and caffeine, not doubt. But STOP! I have done this so many times and every single time it makes me feel so much worse. Try to have your house stocked with simple, easy, healthy foods that you can eat without too much prep and which make you feel amazing. I love to boil a bunch of eggs at the beginning of the week and eat those chopped up with avocado and sprinkled with soy sauce or tamari. Or try avocado on wholemeal toast, a banana smoothie or fruit salad and yoghurt. Your body will reward you with energy and your mood will be way better than if you’d reached for the sugary stuff. And there’s nothing wrong with a cuppa or two, but maybe don’t have ten. Mmmmkay?

5. Drink up

6. Jump

Ok, this is kinda nuts, but on days when I’ve been feeling SO zombie-fied that I can barely keep my eyes open and just wanna crawl into a ball… I do star jumps. Right there in the lounge room. When you’ve got two energetic kids who want to play you can’t just sleep on the couch all day. Get up and start jumping, get the blood flowing and you’ll wake up a little more. I also like to get silly and dance. You can dance along to some of my favourite 80s clips too if you like :)

7. Hug

Phone a friend, catch up for a cuppa and a hug. With any luck they’ve got some kiddos that your little ones can play with so that you can both take a mini breather, perhaps even finish your sentences and a hot drink? Or is that just dreaming? Or maybe they have a spare pair of hands to help you get some jobs done or take a moment to yourself.

8. Laugh

Laugh out loud like crazy. Even if you don’t feel like it – soon you’ll be laughing for real and the tension will start to ease.

9. Get help if you need to

Sometimes no amount of jumping, laughing, hugging or boiled eggs can help you feel better. You just need help. Please take care of yourself and visit your GP if the dark thoughts are taking over and you can’t see out of the situation you’re in. I’ve been there too and talking to a professional was the best thing I ever did. It was scary at first, and I cried as soon as I sat down in her office, but it helped enormously. If you can’t face seeing someone if person you can call a support line like Life Line, Beyond Blue or PANDA.

Super ideas. I am in the thick and fog of sleep deprivation. It’s been an 8 months slog and fatigue is a personality/fun/positive/relationship killer!!! I have many bad days and many days where I can manage to stay on top of it all – it’s a constant battle however. I agree a little effort can really boost morale. The little things help. Thanks for reminding me.

Thanks so much for these tips Kylie :) Been struggling a little lately, mainly due to some medication which makes me feel extra lethargic, all day. So tempting to dose up on coffee and sugar but you are so right, it makes me feel worse, every time! And 100% agree with the showering thing. This is one which I usually forget about, but it always makes me feel better when I make time for a shower :)